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A photo of Joseph  Colpitts

Joseph Colpitts 1901 - 1942

Joseph Colpitts was born on February 16, 1901 at Kitchen Terrace, in Grimsargh, Lancashire County, England United Kingdom, and died at age 41 years old on November 3, 1942 at New Guinea. Joseph Colpitts was buried at Port Moresby (bomana) War Cemetery C7. C. 14. in Papua New Guinea. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Joseph Colpitts.
Joseph Colpitts
February 16, 1901
Kitchen Terrace, in Grimsargh, Lancashire County, England, PR2, United Kingdom
November 3, 1942
New Guinea
Male
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Joseph Colpitts' History: 1901 - 1942

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  • 02/16
    1901

    Birthday

    February 16, 1901
    Birthdate
    Kitchen Terrace, in Grimsargh, Lancashire County, England PR2, United Kingdom
    Birthplace
  • Ethnicity & Family History

    White British
  • Nationality & Locations

    Britain and Australia
  • Military Service

    Service number: nx8905 Rank: Sergeant Regiment: Australian Infantry Unit/ship/squadron: A.i.f. 2/1 Bn.
  • Personal Life & Family

    Mansfield//Braithwaite
  • 11/3
    1942

    Death

    November 3, 1942
    Death date
    Killed in Action
    Cause of death
    New Guinea
    Death location
  • Gravesite & Burial

    mm/dd/yyyy
    Funeral date
    Port Moresby (bomana) War Cemetery C7. C. 14. in Papua New Guinea
    Burial location
  • Obituary

    Official advice was received on Friday night that Corpora Joseph Colpitts, of Griffith, had died of wounds. It is presumed that the wounds were received in the fighting in New Guinea as his last communications were from there. Altogether, he fought in nine different countries in this war. In the last war he was a member of the Grenadier Guards. The late Corporal Colpitts, who was aged 42 years, enlisted in the second A.I.F. from Griffith in the early part of 1940. He went to the Middle East and fought in the first Libyan campaign. Following that he went over to Greece and through the whole of the Grecian campaign. During that time he experienced hard fighting. He saw his comrades killed all round him in large numbers, but managed to survive. At one stage, when troops were on the retreat, his party was reduced to cooking grass in tin hats to eat. The Greek people were most kind to all the Allied soldiers and di everything possible to assist them. A Greek merchant paid the owner of a small boat £100 to take a party of soldiers, including the deceased over to Crete. In order to avoid attack from German aircraft, the party had to travel from island to island by night, hiding in an island by day. At arrival on the island of Samos, quite close to the coast of Turkey they telephoned the British Counsel on the mainland. The Consul advised them that if they came ashore they would be interned. However, he sent them foodstuffs and tobacco. The party then resumed its journey going southward. On reaching Crete the members went through the second campaign on that island. When the Germans had secured possession of the northern part of the island, this soldier from Griffith, along with other survivors, marched over the mountainous centre of the island to the south coast. That was, of course, very rough going. But they were able to get a boat in which to sail back to Egypt. Some time later, the deceased soldier volunteered to return with a party of men in Crete in order to rescue some of the soldiers who had been left behind on the island and were living in caves and, it is understood, in the woods awaiting a chance of being rescued. The rescue party was successful in bringing back several hundred men to Egypt. Afterwards the intrepid soldier saw service in Syria. He was also stationed for a considerable time in Palestine. From there he sent, together with photographs, some very interesting letters regarding the sacred placed, people and commerce. While in a cafe in the Middle East he accidentally met his brother, Bill. He had not previously known that his brother was in the army at that time. On the return journey to Australia the deceased was stationed in Ceylon for a while. That was about the time when the Japanese were threatening to attack India. Whilst in Perth he had the opportunity of seeing his father, Mr. W. R. Colpitts. On returing to Griffith he had a fortnight's leave during which he was visited by many old friends. He was one of 22 returned A.I.F. and R.A.A.F. men tendered a welcome home in the Memorial Hall on August 18. Subsequently he was sent north and was soon in the fighting in New Guinea He was in constant communication with his wife, giving general reports as to his welfare, and making plans for the future - plans which, alas, will never materialise. A communication from the minister for the Army advised that the soldier died of wounds on November 3. In a recent letter deceased stated that he had served in nine different countries in this war. The deceased soldier first came to the [Griffith] Area with his parents from England in 1927, his father being a retired Sergeant of police in Manchester. Here deceased married Miss Elizabeth Snaith. After about a year here, the Colpitts went to Western Australia where deceased took up land. For five years he was engaged in wheat growing in that State. He and his wife also conducted the Griffith baths and tuck shop for a couple of years. He was also manager of the Yends branch of the Murrumbidgee Packing House. Much sympathy will be felt for the widow in the loss of her brave husband. Deceased's mother died whilst he was on active service in the Middle East, about six months ago. His only two brothers are in the A.I.F. His brother William also went through the Libyan campaign."
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JOSEPH COLPITTS 42 years of age
JOSEPH COLPITTS 42 years of age
Sgt Joseph Colpitts NX8905 belonged to the 6th Australian Div. Sup. Coln. A.A.S.C. A.I.F]
Joseph Collpitts Rank of Sergeant Service No: NX8905 his date of death: 3 November 1942 aged 42 years.
For the story of Joseph Colpitts can contact Val Mansfield//Robert Braithwaite.
Source of Information: from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Photo was originally taken & supplied to me from Gail Thomas in Port Morsby.
Date & Place: at Lae Memorial War Cemetery at [BOMANA] in PORT MORSBY, New Guinea Guinea
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Joe Colpitts was my Great Uncle. Born in Grimsargh, Lancashire in 1901 was in the Grenadier Guards throughout WW1 and emigrated to Australia between the wars. Colpitts Street in Griffith, NSW is named after him. Brothers were Bill and George, father William. I have more information on the whole Colpitts family including those who remained in the UK when most emigrated.
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